Christian Message Boards: Unmerited favor?

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Posted by Michael Harrison (Member # 6801) on :

If one asks the believer what the definition of grace is, almost invariably one will say, “Unmerited Favor!” However, while that is true, the definition is incomplete. For if it is merely unmerited favor, but it doesn’t change you into His image, it is nothing more than unmerited forgiveness. For in that case it would allow one to live in darkness, and abide in sin, while just overlooking it. Is that what HE died for?

And grace does something. Grace accomplishes something for the believer even beyond forgiveness. Grace is the power of God that changes you. Otherwise you are condemned to perpetually sin, and Jesus died just to commute your sentence. But is that all He did? Some think so, if not most. Well, we see in Hebrews that Paul says:

Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help [accomplish for us] in time of need.

’Grace to help’ in the time of need equals deliverance. What Paul is saying in Heb 4:16 is that we may, by approaching HIM, obtain grace, which is the power of God to rise above, or to overcome, in the time of need. Else he would have said to come to the throne to claim forgiveness, because to sin is all you can do, and therefore you should seek forgiveness right away. But what a strange cycle, sinning and repenting! For most of us would have to ask for forgiveness, or say twenty ‘Hail Marys’ twenty times an hour. Is that how HE wants us to live? And if it is, is it not impotent, the provision? Is God weak?

Nay! We should seek to know this provision that we may know the joy of unbroken fellowship with Him. And what you believe in your heart determines what you will see.

Posted by Found in Him (Member # 7596) on :

To me personally grace is:

God's
Riches
At
Christ's
Expense

See how grace is spelled out by the first letter of each word above? All we have been given including our hope was at Christ's expense.

Keeping that in mind I bow before my maker in prayer to seek such a wonderful Savior-- to commune with Him is what I seek personally. Then I am found in Him, and I find Him!

I believe it is the heart seeking Him alone that pleases God.

Jerimiah 29:
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD

Posted by becauseHElives (Member # 87) on :

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:

"Grace" the most misunderstood word in the Church and in the world!

any definition that is partial or incomplete, is an incorrect definition and unmerited favor is an incomplete definition for "Grace that Saves".

Grace that saves as defined by scripture is this.... the good will,the loving-kindness,the unmerited favor of the merciful kindness by which Yahweh, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Yahshua His Son, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues

Posted by The Beauty of Holiness777 (Member # 7380) on :

Amen! and Amen.

Posted by Michael Harrison (Member # 6801) on :

The 'Grace' of God, is the 'Power' of God, working on our behalf. It is such that we can 'frustrate it till it is null,' first of all by not understanding it, then also by resisting it. This is done through fullfilling 'lusts', which some justify the doing thereof as though we "just can't help it."

Posted by Eden (Member # 5728) on :

quote:
For if it is merely unmerited favor, but it doesn’t change you into His image, it is nothing more than unmerited forgiveness. For in that case it would allow one to live in darkness, and abide in sin, while just overlooking it. Is that what HE died for?

A believer who puts him or herself under the blood of Jesus is already a humbled person, because only someone who has recognized his own sinfulness will bother to put himself under the blood of Jesus.

In addition, the behavior of Jesus is counted/measured on our behalf, so that is more unmerited favor. When it comes to God, He pours out a LOT of unmerited favor to us humans, especially to us Christian humans, Amen?

To repeat what you said, Michael Harrison

quote:
For if it is merely unmerited favor, but it doesn’t change you into His image, it is nothing more than unmerited forgiveness.

Even if it were only "unmerited forgiveness", that is a GIANT forgiveness for us humans, and is hardly "NOTHING MORE THAN UNMERITED FORGIVENESS".

love, Eden